Microbial ventilation device

ABSTRACT

A microbial ventilation device has a cone-shaped coandella and an air blower assembly. The air blower assembly includes a housing has a first end, a second end, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends. The air blower assembly further has an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end. The housing is disposed in relation to a bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/241,863, filed Sep. 8, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to ventilation systems, and more particularly, to a microbial ventilation device that creates a protected breathing zone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Corona Virus (hereinafter, virus) has taken the world by storm. The virus has led to the extreme loss of human life and has gravely impacted our economic and social realm. Due to the virus, businesses were forced to shut down, many lost their jobs, and the economy experienced a drastic fall in demand. Experts have estimated that most major economies will lose at least 2.9 percent of their gross GDP. The fall in demand resulted from consumers having to quarantine in their homes to stop the spread of the vims. Researchers discovered that the virus transmits through droplets nuclei or carrier dust via airborne transmission.

The virus transmits from person to person in mainly two ways, namely droplets nuclei or carrier dusts via airborne transmission. Due to this method of transfer, public spaces, such as restaurants and office environments, have become the most dangerous areas for the virus. The air is often considered an important carrier medium for microbial pathogens. Experts state that the air is teeming with more than 1,800 kinds of bacteria. The microbes found in social and community spaces are mainly associated with a large amount of human occupancy. This is mainly because the typical office space only has one return air grille.

Mechanical ventilation employs air grilles placed in office buildings to supply and mix air into a room. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) requires the mixing of fresh air with existing air before it is flushed out for dilution, removal of airborne contaminants, temperature, and humidity. This current method of ventilation, however, increases the occupant's exposure to airborne pathogens. Droplets or aerosols containing viruses or bacteria introduced by the occupants will travel horizontally across the office space before re-entering the conveyance system. This horizontal mixing is a key cause of indoor airborne exposure and infection. Industry guidelines are ineffective at maintaining within-zone contaminant removal. Social distancing is also an ineffective solution.

The current practice of six feet separation distance known as social distancing is ineffective in preventing the spread of the virus. Social distancing is only a short-term solution for dealing with covid, it is ineffective for occupant's who remain in a building for a long period of time. If the economy is to return to its pre-pandemic economic health, social distancing is not enough. It is necessary to monitor, control, and cleanse indoor airborne microbes for occupational safety and public health. The present invention provides a solution to this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are embodiments of microbial ventilation devices and systems having one or more microbial ventilation devices.

An object of the embodiments of the microbial ventilation devices and systems disclosed herein is to provide a breathing zone of filtered air within an environment to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens and/or breathing contaminations.

One embodiment of a microbial ventilation device has a cone-shaped coandella having a top surface and a bottom surface and an air blower assembly. The air blower assembly includes a housing having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends. The air blower assembly further has an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end. The housing is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air.

Another embodiment of the microbial ventilation device has a cone-shaped coandella having a top surface and a bottom surface and an air blower assembly. The coandella is configured to be disposed in an elevated position in an air space of environment having a ceiling and a floor with the bottom surface facing in a direction toward the floor. The air blower assembly has a housing having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends. The air blower assembly further has an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end. The housing is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air in the air space approximate the coandella.

In another embodiment a system has an indoor environment having a ceiling and a floor and an air space extending therebetween. One or more microbial ventilation devices are disposed in the environment. Each microbial ventilation device has a cone-shaped coandella having a top surface and a bottom surface and an air blower assembly. The coandella is disposed in an elevated position above the floor in the air space with the bottom surface facing in a direction toward the floor. The air blower assembly has a housing having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends. The air blower assembly further has an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end. The housing is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air in the air space approximate the coandella.

In embodiments, the microbial ventilation device may further have an air filter media disposed in the housing and positioned to filter air flowing through the air flow passage. In embodiments, the microbial ventilation device may further have a UV-light disposed in the housing and positioned to sterilize the air filter media.

For purposes of summarizing, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention are provided herein. It is to be understood that not all aspects, advantages, or novel features may be provided in any one embodiment. Thus, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one aspect, advantages, or novel features or group of features without achieving all aspects, advantages, or novel features as may be taught or suggested.

The present invention provides a novel solution for monitoring, controlling, and filtering indoor airborne microbes for occupational safety and public health.

Numerous objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide a further understanding of the invention for illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a microbial ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a microbial ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a microbial ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a microbial ventilation device shown in use in an environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a microbial ventilation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The devices discussed herein are illustrative examples to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope unless stated otherwise. While the devices have been described with a degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the devices and components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

The device of the present invention is suitable for controlling and removing indoor airborne microbes (and/or other airborne particulates) for occupational safety and public health. Corona virus is an airborne pathogen. The virus may be transmitted through droplets nuclei or carrier dust via airborne transmission. Due to this method of transmission, it is not safe to enter shared public spaces, such as office buildings or restaurants. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) requires that fresh air be mixed with existing air before it is flushed out, this however, increases society's exposure to air borne pathogens. The present invention is a microbial ventilation system that draws and removes microbes within a pre-defined space referred to herein as a breathing zone.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, reference number 10 generally designates a microbial ventilation device. In summary, device 10 is configured and operated to provide a breathing space within a larger open space. The breathing space prevents breathing unfiltered air, thereby reducing potential infection by airborne pathogens. In an aspect, device 10 provides an overhead air dome under which the dome provides a protected breathing space. The air dome is created by a directional flow of moving air that is produced by device 10 and the air dome prevents adjacent unfiltered air from entering the breathing zone.

In the representatively illustrated embodiment, device 10 is configured to be positioned in the air above a location where a breathing zone is desired. As a non-limiting example, device 10 may be suspended by a cable 20 to a ceiling 22 at a position located above the desired breathing zone. Device 10 includes an air director 12, which is termed herein as a coandella, and an air blower assembly 14 positioned below the coandella 12.

As depicted, the coandella 12 is a conical-shaped thin sheet of material. As a non-limiting example, the material could be plastic, nylon, cloth, or paper. The coandella 12 has a broad top surface 16 and an opposite broad bottom surface 18. When positioned for use, the apex is located at the top and its base is located at the bottom with the bottom surface 18 facing toward the air blower assembly 14.

In the representatively illustrated embodiment, the air blower assembly 14 has a housing 24 with oppositely disposed ends 26 and 28, a sidewall 30 extending between the ends. The air blower assembly 14 is arranged such that end 28 of the housing 24 is located at a spaced distance from the bottom surface 18 of the coandella 12 and faces the bottom surface. As depicted, the air blower assembly 14 is suspended by cables 34 attached to the housing 24 at one end and are attached to cable 20 at their opposite ends.

The housing 24 as an interior air flow passage 36 and is configured such that air is drawn into the flow passage through end 26 and is discharged from the flow passage through end 28. An electric fan 35 is disposed within the flow passage 36 and is operated to draw air 38 into the flow passage through an air inlet through end 26 and discharge air 40 through an air exit through end 28.

An air collector 42 may be attached to or provided at end 26. The collector 42 has a broad surface 44 that extends beyond the peripheral edge of end 26 and operates to extend the area located below housing 24 in which air is drawn into the flow passage 36 through end 26.

An air filter pad 48 can be disposed in housing 24 and positioned to filter the air flowing through flow passage 36 and remove pathogens and/or chemicals from the air before the air exits the housing. As representatively shown, the filter pad 48 is disposed across the flow passage 36 at a position approximate end 26. The housing 24 is configured to allow easy replacement of the filter pad 48.

A UV light 50 can be provided and configured to disinfect the filter pad 48 and internal components of the housing 24, providing safe conditions for filter replacement.

In operation, air 38 within a breathing zone 54 approximate device 10 is drawn or pulled from the breathing zone into air flow passage 36 of housing 24 by operation of fan 35. The air is filtered by filter media or pad 48 and is discharged from the housing as clean air 40. Air 40 is caused to impinge against the bottom surface 18 of the coandella 12 and flow across the bottom surface by the Coanda effect. Air 40 leaves the peripheral edge 56 of the coandella 12 with a directional flow that creates an air dome 58 above the breathing zone. The air dome 58 prevents adjacent air from entering the breathing zone. The slant height of the cone shape can be adjusted to optimize the Coanda effect.

In FIG. 5 , an alternative mounting for device 10 is shown. Here, rather than being suspended from a ceiling, device 10 is attached to a wall bracket 60 which operates to position the device in a desired location. The wall bracket could be articulated to allow for adjustable placement. While not shown, device 10 could also be attached to a floor post, pole, pedestal or the like.

Device 10 may be placed at personal breathing zones within the environment of an office building, a restaurant, or school, for example. Many devices 10 can be placed within the environment to create a grid of breathing zones that prevent cross flow of air between the zones. In aspects, the device may be suspended at a topmost layer of a building or a structure. The topmost layer of a building or structure may be at least twelve inches above the head space in a seating area within the breathing zone and or at least three to four feet above a desk, table, bureau, or any piece of furniture with a flat table-style work surface used in a school, office, home, or the like.

Device 10 may draw in contaminated air from a personal breathing zone, filter the contaminated air, and return non-contaminated air to the personal breathing zone. Horizontal mixing of air from one breathing zone to the other is thus significantly reduced. The air from one personal breathing zone does not mix with the air of adjacent breathing zones or any other air within the environment. Each device continuously filters the contaminated air within its individual breathing zone. By positioning the system above the seating area of the breathing zone, the system removes the contaminated air before it enters the air stream. Particulate removal is as effective as the filter media type and its established ratings for the particles or microbes of concern.

A unique feature of device 10 is its ability to remove contaminated air within the defined breathing zone in under two minutes. This is well below the consensus exposure time of 15 minutes for infection. Most systems require at least ten minutes and require horizontal airflow which only increases cross-contamination. Contaminated air may comprise of several airborne pathogens, such as but not limited to SARS-CoV-2, SARS, Rhinovirus, RSV, parainfluenza, influenza A, influenza B, A(H1N1), A(H3N2), varicella-zoster, paramyxovirus, morbillivirus, pramyxoviridae, and similar or variants thereof, mold spores, dust, and allergens.

Although the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that other versions are possible. As various changes could be made in the above description without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be illustrative and not used in a limiting sense. The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained in the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A microbial ventilation device comprising: a cone-shaped coandella having a top surface and a bottom surface; an air blower assembly comprising a housing having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends; the air blower assembly further comprising an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end; and wherein the housing is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air.
 2. The microbial ventilation device of claim 1, further comprising an air filter media disposed in the housing and positioned to filter air flowing through the air flow passage.
 3. The microbial ventilation device of claim 2, further comprising a UV-light disposed in the housing and positioned to sterilize the air filter media.
 4. The microbial ventilation device of claim 1, wherein the coandella is constructed of a thin sheet of material that is shaped into a cone.
 5. The microbial ventilation device of claim 1, wherein the air blower assembly further includes an air collector disposed at the first end, the air collector comprising a broad surface the extends around and beyond a peripheral edge of the first end.
 6. The microbial ventilation device of claim 1, wherein the air blower assembly is coupled to the coandella.
 7. A microbial ventilation device comprising: a cone-shaped coandella having a top surface and a bottom surface, the coandella configured to be disposed in an elevated position in an air space of environment having a ceiling and a floor with the bottom surface facing in a direction toward the floor; an air blower assembly comprising a housing having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends; the air blower assembly further comprising an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end; and wherein the housing is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air in the air space approximate the coandella.
 8. The microbial ventilation device of claim 7, further comprising an air filter media disposed in the housing and positioned to filter air flowing through the air flow passage.
 9. The microbial ventilation device of claim 8, further comprising a UV-light disposed in the housing and positioned to sterilize the air filter media.
 10. The microbial ventilation device of claim 7, wherein the coandella is constructed of a thin sheet of material that is shaped into a cone.
 11. The microbial ventilation device of claim 7, wherein the air blower assembly further includes an air collector disposed at the first end, the air collector comprising a broad surface the extends around and beyond a peripheral edge of the first end.
 12. The microbial ventilation device of claim 7, wherein the air blower assembly is coupled to the coandella.
 13. A system comprising: an indoor environment having a ceiling and a floor and an air space extending therebetween; one or more microbial ventilation devices disposed in the environment, each microbial ventilation device comprising: a cone-shaped coandella having a top surface and a bottom surface, the coandella disposed in an elevated position above the floor in the air space with the bottom surface facing in a direction toward the floor; an air blower assembly comprising a housing having a first end, a second end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an air flow passage extending between the first and second ends; the air blower assembly further comprising an electric fan configured to draw air into the air flow passage through the first end and discharged the air from the air flow passage through the second end; and wherein the housing is disposed in relation to the bottom surface of the coandella such that the second end is spaced a distance from the bottom surface so that air discharged from the air flow passage impinges upon the bottom surface and is caused to flow along the bottom surface in a radial outward direction and then beyond a peripheral edge of the coandella creating an air dome of radially out flowing air in the air space approximate the coandella.
 14. The system of claim 13, further comprising: an air filter media disposed in the housing and positioned to filter air flowing through the air flow passage; and a UV-light disposed in the housing and positioned to sterilize the air filter media.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the coandella is constructed of a thin sheet of material that is shaped into a cone.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the air blower assembly further includes an air collector disposed at the first end, the air collector comprising a broad surface the extends around and beyond a peripheral edge of the first end.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the air blower assembly is coupled to the coandella.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the coandella is disposed in an elevated position above a seating area, a desk, a workspace, or a table.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the environment is a school, a business, or a restaurant. 